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December 2, 1800g/60; THE MISSING WELCH › FUSILIERS.
MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRIES.-
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CHINA-OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. the skin after death. The stomach was full of food. I he heart presented the appearance of death from shook. He found a fracture on On: 24th November Mr. Gomperts held an the left side of the skull, and there were also enquiry at the Magistracy into the circum- bruises in the tissues of the scalp on the stances attending the death of Private-David left side of the bead corresponding with the Jordon, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose position of the fracture of the skull. Syncope body was found in the harbour near the Naval was probably the cause of death, and this could Yard on the 18th inst. His Worship also en-have been caused by the fracture. The fracture quired into the death of Private Jones, of the might have been caused by a blow or by the man R.WF whose body was found in the har falling from a height and coming in contact bour on Monday afternoon.
with some hard substance. He could not say whe- Major Morris and Major Sir H, W. Mc-ther death took place before or after going into Mahon, R.W.F and Major Riley, R.A.M.C.the water. The body was too decomposed to occupied seats on the bench.
enable him to tell whether there was any alcohol in the stomach or not. On Saturday the body was said to be that of Private Henry Joues. He mentioned that it was rather difficult to identify z body when the features so swollen. The appearances of the body were such as to lead one to suppose that death was not from drowning. He should say the body had been in the water for more than two days. He was told at the time that Jones had only been missing since the Thursday night previous, but the body looked as if it had been in the water before then.
Private Walker, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, said he knew Private Jordan well. He last saw him alive about 11.20 p.m. on the 14th out- side Praya East Hotel. Witness was on police duty at the time. Deceased went towards the Blue Buildings and then witness lost sight of him. Deceased was alone and appeared to be sober. He had not seen the body of deceased since it had been taken out of the harbour.
Private Herring, of the E.W.F., said he was on patrol duty with the previous witness on the night of the 14th inst. near the Praya East Hotel. He saw a man come out of the hotel. He did not know who it was until the previous witness told him it was Private Jordan. De. ceased seemed to be sober, and walked towards the Blue Buildings under the verandah. There was no one with him at the time. He had not seen him since. Deceased was dressed in khaki uniform and carried a stick in his hand.
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Private Jasper, of the R.W.F., said he knew deceased and last saw him near the Clock Tower at 10.20 p.m. on the 14th inst. He said to him Good night, Jordan," and deceased said the same to him. Deceased was alone at the time and appeared to be sober. He had seen neither of the two bodies which had been taken out of the harbour.
Private Harding, of the R.W.F., said he knew deceased. He last saw him on the night of the 14th inst. He joined him at the canteen at about seven o'clock and was with him until about nine o'clock. Deceased staggered a little when he got up. They had fou. quart pots of beer between three of them. When he left him deceased said he was going to town. He saw the body of deceased after it had been extramed. He identified the body as that of Jordan from his moustache and his arm. There were no tatoo marks on his arm whilst there were on that of Private Jones He did not know Private Jones.
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Private Edward Jones, of the R.W.F., said he knew deceased, whom be last saw alive at about a quarter to seven ou Tuesday night, the 14th inst. Decessed came to his barrack-room and remained there about ten minutes. When he left he said he was going to the canteen, and witness said he would follow him when he had had a wash. When he joined deceased in the canteen he was with Private Harding. They had four quarts of beer between three of them. When deceased wished him good-night at nine o'clock he staggered when he got up from the forın. When he kit deceased said he was going down the town Witness remained in the canteen. He saw the body which was exhumed on Monday, and recognised it as that of Private Jordan. He could tell it by the moustache and hands, the latter being wrinkled. He did not know Private Jones by sight.
Constable Laccok said that about seven o'clock on the morning of the 18th inst. he went to the foreshore to the rear of the Naval Yard and there saw a dead body, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The head and arms-were in the water. He removed the body to the Public Mortuary. He was present when the body was exhumed at the Cemetery. He was sure that the body, which was exhumed was the same as that which he removed to the Mortuary on Saturday.
saw a
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John Bryant, senior ship-keeper of the hospital ship Meeane, said that at about thres o'clock on the afternoon of the 18th instaut be
the Public Mortuary. He believed the body to be
body at
that of Private Jones, whom he had seen for between a fortnight and three weeks on the ship. Jones being on duty on the ship as 2 policeman. He knew Jones passably well by sight. He thought the body was that of Jones from the moustache and contour of the face. Before then he had reason to believe Jones had fallen into the water. He saw the body again when it had been exhumed. He did not know Private Jordan. He did not know at the time he saw the body on Saturday that Private Jordan was missing,
Sergeant Miller, of the, R.A.M.C said he saw the body of deceased on Saturday morning about 11 o'clock. He thought it was that of Private Jones, whom he had known by sight about three weeks. He thought the body was that of Private Jones because it was that of a soldier dressed in khaki; he thought I'rivate Jones was the only soldier missing; and he thought the body had the appearance of Jones. He knew Private Jordan by sight. He could not say that there was much resemblance between him and Jones. When he saw the body on Saturday the face was all swollen up and the features so disfigured that it was almost impossible to identify it. When he saw the body he thought Private Jones was the only soldier who was supposed to have been drowned
Private Thomas, of the R. W: F. (4732), said that on the afternoon of the 18th inst. he saw a body at the Mortuary. He was sont down to identify the body as that of Private Jones, but he saw that it was that of Private Jordan. He knew Jordan well, having messed with him, He also knew Private Jones. He knew the body was not that of Jones at first by finding no tattoo: marks on the arms, Jones's arms being tatooed. Jones had a rose, shamrock, and thistle tattooed on his right arm, and he saw this mark on Jones's arm before the body was put in to the coffin. Jordan's clothing was marked 4,727, which was his right number, and Jones's clothing was marked 4.88, which was his right number. When he found ont that the body was not that of Jones he reported to the Corporal. He saw the second body on Wednesday, and identified it as that of Jones from the tattoo marks on the arms and the number on the clothing. He was prepared to swear that the first body he saw was not that of Jones but that of Jordan and that the second body was that of Private Jones. He knew both men well.
Private John Thomas, of the R.W.F. (No, Dr. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer, 4745), also deposed to having identified the body said that on the morning of the 18th inst heat the mortuary on Saturday as that of Private examined the body of a European dressed in khaki uniform which had been brought to the mortuary. The body had evidently been in the water for some days. The skin wis all blanched by the sun and the eyeballs were very protu- berant. There was a wound on the right temple. From the appearance of the wound it was impossible for him to state whether it might not have been caused by fishes sating,
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The evidence in the other case was then taken.
Wednesday morning he made a post-mortem Dr. Atkinson said that at 10 o'clook on examination of the body of a male adult in khaki neiform which seemed to have been in the water at least two weeks. The skin and all. the tissues were off and the skull exposed. The body was so decomposed that it was im- possible to state what was the bause of death.. Some of the skin was left on the right forearm... The body was in his presence identified as that and there were two marks clearly to be seen. of Private Jones by three men of the regiment. They said they identified it by the tattoo marks on the arm.
Jordan. He knew Private Joues. The latter fihad: tatoo,marka-on his arms and the other had not. He described the marks on Jon'sarm, those including the rose, shamrock, thistle, »od leek; the name " Ellen,the-lion and the mnicorn, as palm tree, and a hand, heart, and “ love." He know both non-well and was prepared to say on oath that the first, body was that of Private Jordan and the other that of Private Jones
Colour-Sergeant Pays of the R.W.F. also gave evidence as to identification.
Sergeant Gublay said that at 6.30 p.m. on the 21st inst. the body of a soldier was brought to the Police Station by Police Pinnace No. 1. He saw the body taken in to a sling by the Police Pinnace about 200 yards east of Keilet Island. He searched the body and found the number. 4888 on the tunio and trousers. In the right breast pocket he found the pass produced and numbered 4904 and the name of Private Des mond written in. In the right breast pocket of the tunic he found a clay pipe and in the right trousers pooket 27 cents. He took the body to the mortuary. The body was very much belt produced from the body and then took the
he went to the mortuary, and Privates Hughes, decomposed. On the morning of the 22nd inst. Evans, and Desmond identified the body as that of Private Jones by the tattoo mark on the right arm-a tree-with a snake crawling up it. The stick and exp produced, which belonged to Private Jones, were found at the foot of the ladder on the Mecanes.
of the 16th, at 11.30, he was on duty on the Constable Copeland said that on the night wharf near Queen's Buildings when Private Jones passed him and bid him Good night." He was going in the direction of the Gor- ernment Wharf.
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Leung Kam, owner of the sampan 2523, said that on the evening of the 16th instant, a little after 11 o'clock, he took two Europeans aboard and took one to the the other to the Mesanee. He identified the Tamar and
man he took to the Tuwar. The other man wa dressed in a kind of light clothing. The 20 cents. He saw him ascend the steps at the passenger he landed on to the Meeanee paid him
Meeanee. He did not see whether any one else was there as well. There was no light at the foot of the ladder. He did not hear a splash or any one call out. He arrived at the Meganes about 11.45.
Hedley Beer, engine-room artificer, said that about 11.30 p.m. on Thursday, the 16th, he saw
a private of the Welch Fusiliers
Jones. in a sampan, but he did not know Private
the He got into him when he learned he was going to the sampan with
Meeanee, He asked him what he was doing on the Mesanes and he said he was on police duty. The man spoke at random and seemed to be under the influence of liquor. When witness arrived at the Tamar the sampan went away and witness saw no more of the man.
Private Edward Hughes, of the R.W.F., said he last saw Private Jones on the 16th. He met him in the "Shamrook," and left him there at about a quarter past ten that night. Jones had had a drop of drink. Another Private Hughes, of “C” Company, was in Jones's com- pany when he came away. He saw the body of a European in the Public Mortuary on the 22nd and identified it as that of Joues
Private Desmond, of the R.W.F., identifled the pass produced as his. He lent it to Private Jones on the 16th inst, at 6 p.m. to make a copy. He did not see him again that evening.
Ho
Sergeant Miller, of the R.A.M.C., said he did not remember Private Jones coming on board the Mesance on the evening of the 16th. At about 13.50 the following morning he was awakened by hearing a splash in the water. just under. neath his cabin window, which was open. listened and heard a second splash. He jumped out of bed and went to the window. He leaned out and he thought he could see the shoulders and arms of a inan disappear round the stern of the ship. At that time the tide was runing rather fast. He ran out of his cabin, culling out to Mr. Bryant, the ship-keeper, whose cabin.
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